A controversial choice, given that the Barcelona-born Serrat is more of a folk singer than a rocker; a Catalan Leonard Cohen, perhaps. But when it comes to Spanish popular music, he is the godfather, and his influence on several generations of musicians and songwriters is hard to overstate. His career started in the sixties and […]

Singing in English is a brave gambit when it’s not your native language, but Toledo’s folk rockers “los Sunday” pulled off the feat impressively. With a low-key stage act, much of their appeal rested on the shoulders of singer-guitarist Jero Romero, whose voice gave us such unforgettable lyrics as: “People talk to people / Go […]

Chao was born of Galician parents but grew up in Paris, where he formed anarcho-rock outfit Mano Negra. A multi-lingual rabble who toured Europe and Latin America to great acclaim, Mano Negra’s energy made up for a lack of songcraft. Chao struck out on his own with success, releasing the unique and mesmerising Clandestino in […]

His band, El Último de la Fila, were easy to snigger at, perhaps because they looked so un-rock ‘n’ roll, but you can’t argue with their commercial and critical success, which led some critics to label them “the Spanish REM”. However, García’s solo career has been more interesting than that of his former band. His […]